Images from July 1999

Grimsvötn lake is located at the center of the Vatnajökull glacier. Volcanic activity melts ice beneath the surface and the melt water accumulates in Grimsvötn. Normally the lake is not visible as it is hidden below an ice cap several meters thick.

The map on the left shows an area of about 10 x 8 km of the central part of Vatnajökull. The numbers with the red viewing angles refer to the images below. The cross hair marks the eruption site from 1998 markiert (64Â°24.06’ N, 17Â°20.19’ W).

Bild 1: Overview of the cliff Grimsfjall; Grimsvötn is located left of it. The pictures were taken during an overflight in July 1999. The black ash on the ice originates from the eruption in December 1998. For details about this event goto NORDVULK.

Grimsfjall

38.8 kb

Image 2: Detail of the cliff, Summer 1999: Wafts of mist are caused by the sea of cold air over Grimsvötn. The stratification of the ice indicates an eventful volcanic past of this location.

Caldera in the glacier

29.2 kb

Image 3: Even in ’quiet’ times the glacier is molten from below as this caldera shows. This caldera is about 80m in diameter.